The image of capacitance of parallel plates is shown below.
To compute for capacitance of parallel plates, three essential parameters are needed and these parameters are Permittivity of the Material (ε), Cross-sectional (A) and Distance Between the Plates (d).
The formula for calculating capacitance of parallel plates:
C = εrεoA / d
Where:
C = Capacitance of Parallel Plates
εr = Permittivity of the material
εo = vacuum permittivity = 8.8541878176E-12
A = cross-sectional area
d = distance between the plates
Let’s solve an example;
Find the capacitance of parallel plates when the permittivity of the material is 14, the cross-sectional area is 8 and the distance between the plates is 2.
This implies that;
εr = Permittivity of the material = 14
εo = vacuum permittivity = 8.854E-12
A = cross-sectional area = 8
d = distance between the plates = 2
C = εrεoA / d
C = 14 x 8.854-12 x 8 / 2
C = 9.9166e-10 / 2
C = 4.958e-10
Therefore, the capacitance of parallel plates is 4.958e-10 farads.